Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization: The circle of friends: Youth Club for teenagers and young people with Down Syndrome
THE CHALLENGE
Teenagers and young people with Down syndrome find themselves in social isolation after school and are unable to realize their potential in life. This leads to them halting their development, withdrawing into themselves, and not contributing to society. In this way, a negative attitude towards people with disabilities is formed. People with Down syndrome who do not have developed communication skills are not given opportunities by society to perform everyday tasks and work, even though many of them are capable.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This project organizes meetings with social pedagogues for two groups: teenagers and young people with Down syndrome. They will be supported in developing communication skills and abilities. Beneficiaries will learn and consolidate the rules and forms of social behavior and receive guidance for self-realization and potential employment. This will help participants navigate their lives and plans.
There will also be internships for social work students. Completion of practice and participation in special seminars will enhance their mastery of practical skills in supporting people with disabilities, contributing to their future work.
UKRAINIAN DOWN SYNDROME ORGANIZATION: EAT TASTY-BE HEALTHY
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
NGO Name: Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization - Location: Ukraine
THE CHALLENGE
For people with intellectual disabilities, developing healthy eating habits is an essential part of living independently. However, accessible educational resources on nutrition are often limited, making it more difficult to build the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed choices. There is also a need for learning approaches that are engaging, creative, and adapted to different learning styles, while encouraging self-expression and autonomy.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Eat Tasty — Be Healthy is a three-year educational project that helps teenagers, youth, and adults with intellectual disabilities develop healthy eating habits while strengthening their creativity, communication, and independent living skills. Through interactive workshops, artistic activities, and accessible learning materials, participants explore nutrition in a fun and engaging way. People with Down syndrome play an active role as co-creators of the project's podcasts and videos, promoting self-advocacy and ensuring the content is relatable and accessible. All educational resources will be made freely available online, extending the project's impact to families, educators, and anyone interested in accessible nutrition education.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Healthy eating is about much more than food—it is a pathway to greater independence, confidence, and inclusion. Through this project, people with intellectual disabilities are not only learning about nutrition, but also discovering their creativity, strengthening their communication skills, and becoming advocates for themselves. By involving participants as creators of educational content, we ensure that the resources are accessible, authentic, and inspiring for others with similar experiences. Our goal is to make healthy living easier to understand and accessible to everyone, while demonstrating that every person has valuable knowledge, creativity, and a voice worth sharing.
